Draft-rigging for railway-cars.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. MINER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO W. H. MINER`COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DRAFT-HIGGINS FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

Application led July 12,1906. Serial No. 325,806.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM IFI. MINER, a citizen of the United States,residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Draft- Rigging for Railway-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in draft-rigging for railway-cars.

The object of my invention is to provide a tandem-spring draft-riggingfor railway-cars of a strong, simple, efficient, and durableconstruction having means for retarding the reaction of the springs andconsequent return movement of the followers after the springs arecompressed and in which, in addition to the cushioning action of thesprings, the draft-rigging will also have a frictional cushioningaction.

My invention consists in the means I employ to practically accomplishthis obj ect or result-that is to say, it consists, in connection withthe draw-bar, draw-bar strap, side plates or stop-castings, followers,and inner and outer` tandem-arranged springs, of a split collar orsleeve having a wedging engagement with one of the followers and againstwhich the inner or smaller spring bears at one end and a frictionspindle or stem secured to the opposite follower and having a frictionalengagement with said s lit collar or sleeve. The split collar or s eeveis preferably made in two parts or segments, although it may be made ina greater number of segments, if desired, and it preferably has atapering or conical face fitting in and engaging the conical or taperingopening in the follower in which the split sleeve or collar is mounted.One of the followers of each of the two sets of tandem-arranged springsis preferably provided with a tapering opening and a split sleeve orcollar fitting therein and cooperating with a friction spindle or sternsecured to the opposite follower. By this simple construction andcombination of parts the cost of the draftrigging is not materiallyincreased over that of the ordinary tandem-spring draft-rigging and atthe same time ample provision is made for retarding the reaction of thesprings after they are com ressed and also for producing a frictionaresistance, which materially adds to the cushioning power of thesprings.

My invention also consists in the novel I construction of parts anddevices and in the novel combinations of parts and devices herein shownand described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure l is a'plan view, partly in horizontal section, of a draftriggingembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view, partly in section, online 2 2 of Fig. 3, showing the split sleeve or collar and the frictionspindle or stem; and Fig. 8 is a detail cross-section on line 3 3 ofFig. 2.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate like parts.

In said drawings, A represents the center sills or frame pieces of a carto which the side plates or stop-castings of the draft-rigging areapplied, and A the front or end sill.

B is the draw-bar of the coupler, and B the draw-bar extension, strap,or yoke, the same having an abutment b to engage the intermediatefollowers.

C C are ,the side plates or stop-castings of the draft-rigging, havingthe customary stops or shoulders c for the followers to abut against.

D D are the followers, and E E and E E are two sets of tandem-arrangedsprings, the smaller springs E ofeach set fitting within t-he largersprings E, as is customary. One of the followers D of each pair isfurnished with a tapering or wedging opening d to receive the taperingor wedging split collar or sleeve F. The split collar or sleeve F ispreferably made in two segments or parts, although the number of itssegments or parts is immaterial. Each of the split sleeves or collars Fhas a conical tapering or wedging face f to engage the correspondingtapering or wedging face of the opening d in the fol- F is alsofurnished with an inner friction face or surface f which may preferablybe cylindrical and which engages the corresponding friction-face g ofthe spindle or stem Gr, which is rigidly secured to the oppositefollower DQ it being preferably so secured by screwthreads g. The splitsleeve or collar F is preferably made of steel drop-forging, and thefriction stem or spindle G is also preferably of drop-forged steel. Eachof the split sleeves or collars F is furnished with a shoulder or seatf2, against which the inner spring E bears at one end, and with a part f3, fitting inside the spring E to better center or support the spring.

lower D. Each of the split sleeves or collars 9 ICO ' E/ is compressedby the followers D D it causes the split sleeve or collar F to enter thetapering or wedging opening in the follower D, and thus causes the splitcollar or sleeve F to frictionally grip the friction spindle or stem G,and thus add to the cushioning power of the springs by this frictionalresistance, and also to serve as a means of retarding or checking thereaction of the springs after the springs are compressed when they arerelieved from pressure.

I claiml. In a tandem-spring draft-rigging, the combination with thedraw-bar and draw-bar strap or extension, of side plates orstop-castings, inner and outer tandem-arranged springs and followers,one of the followers for each set or pair of springs having a taperingor wedging opening therein, split sleeves or collars fitting in saidtapering or wedging openings in said followers and having tapering orwedging faces cooperating therewith, and provided with innerfriction-faces and friction stems or spindles engaging thefriction-faces of said split sleeves or collars and secured to theopposite followers, one of the springs of each set or pair bearingdirectly at each end against a follower. and the other spring of eachpair bearing at one end against a follower and at its'iopposite endagainst said s plit sleeve or collar substantially as speci- 2. In adraft-rigging, the combination with the draw-bar, inner and outertandemarranged springs, and followers, of a friction spindle or sternsecured to one of the followers and a split friction sleeve or collarengaging said friction-stem and having a tapering or wedging faceengaging a tapering or wedging face on the follower opposite to the oneto which said friction spindle or stem is secured, one of the springs ofeach set or pair bearing directly at each end against a follower and theother spring of each pair bearing at one end against a follower and atits opposite end against said split sleeve or collar substantially asspecified.

3. In a draft-rigging, the combination with a draw-bar, followers andinner and outer springs, one of the followers having a tapering openingtherein, a split friction-collar having a tapering or wedging facefitting in said tapering opening of said follower and provided with ashoulder or seat against which the inner spring abuts at one end and afriction stern or spindle secured to the other or opposite follower theouter spring bearing directly at both ends against said followers andthe inner spring bearing at one end against one of said followers and atthe other end against said split friction-collar, substantially asspecified.

4. In a draft-rigging, the combination with a pair of followers, innerand outer springs between the followers, a friction-stem secured to oneof the followers and a split friction-collar in frictional engagementwith said friction-stem and having a seat or shoulder against which oneof said springs bears at one end, said friction-collar having a taperingor wedging engagement with the follower opposite to the one to whichsaid friction-stem is secured, one of said springs bearing at both endsdirectly against the followers and the other bearing at one end onlyagainst a follower substantially as specified.

5. In a draft-rigging, the combination with a pair of followers, ofinner and outer springs between the followers, a friction device securedto one of the followers and a movable friction device operated by theother follower, one of said springs bearing at one end against saidmovable friction device and at its other end against the oppositefollower and the other spring bearing directly at both ends against thefollowers, substantially as specified.

6. In a draft-rigging, the combination with a pair of followers, ofinner and outer springs between the followers, one of said springsbearing at its ends against both said followers and a friction deviceagainst which the other spring bears at one end said other springbearing at its other end against the opposite follower, substantially asspecified.

7. VIn a draft-rigging, the combination with a pair of followers, ofinner and outer springs between the followers, one of said springsbearing at its ends against both said followers and a friction deviceagainst which the other spring bears at one end said other springbearing at its other end against the opposite follower, and connectingmeans for operating said friction device by movement of the followers,substantially as specified,

WILLIAM H. MINER. I/Vitnesses:

EDMUND AncocK, PEARL ABRAMS.

IOO

